My last trip this year with my travel buddy. I thought it would just be a plain goodbye with a sumptuous dinner and a bottle of beer. Who am I kidding?! We've known each other as travel addicts why not do it the travelers way. Another trip abroad. Another mountain to climb. This time around we've decided to go to Surabaya in Indonesia. It is formerly known in Dutch as Soerabaja/Soerabaia, now it uses the Javanese term Surabaya. Located in the northeastern part of Java and is considered as the second-largest city in Indonesia. Let's go!
"This site contains Affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases of a product/service at no added cost to you." ^_^
Travel Tips
- For flights, Skyscanner is excellent for comparing the best airline deals.
- For accommodations, our family trusts Booking.com for reasonable prices.
- Organize your trips easily with a Travel Planner.
- For tried-and-true travel and hiking gear, check out our Amazon Storefront.
Surabaya 4-day itinerary: DIY (Do it yourself) Trip. Easy and Breezy
Budget: 200 SGD / 1,800,000 Rupiah
Day 1, 27 October, Thursday: Surabaya Airport to Mt. Bromo Area
Mt. Bromo - Hike to Indonesia’s Most Famous Volcano
8:15-9:35 - Flight Tiger Airways TR2260 Changi Airport, Singapore to Juanda Airport Surabaya International Airport
1. Just outside the vicinity of Surabaya airport, take the bus to Bungurasih bus terminal. Purchase a ticket at the exit door.
2. Take the public bus to Probolinggo.
3. Hop into another Bus to Cemoro Lawang (small mini bus seating 15 pax)
Check-in Yoschi's Hotel
1 night: 210,000 Rupiah
Bromo Sunrise Hike. Early morning drive to Mt Penanjakan.
Jeep Sharing, 4x4 WD to Mt. Bromo: 150,000 Rupiah (Booked with Yoschi Hotel)
Wake-up call: 3:00 Am - 3:30 Am
Travel time: 1 hour
Mt. Bromo Entrance Fee: 220,000 Rupiah (tourists) and 27,000 Rupiah (locals), Check out the big difference.
Day 2 : 28 October, Friday : Cemoro Lawang to Banyuwangi (Ijen Crater)
Travel time: 7 hrs drive from Bromo to Ijen Area
1. Cemorolawang to Probolingo
Van sharing: 75,000 Rupiah
Call time: 10:00 Am
Drop off at Bus terminal to Banyuwangi
2. Two options: Train/ Bus from Probolingo to Banyuwangi
a. Train has two timings 11 am and 4 pm. Then take the minibus to the Hotel.
b. Bus from Probolingo to Banyuwangi. Then take the minibus to the Hotel.
Check in Kampung Osing Inn
1-night stay: 125,000 Rupiah / 13 SGD for two pax ( 1 room, with towel and breakfast)
The staff is great however far from Ijen Crater, no nearby restaurants and difficult to find a mode of transportation. The only great thing about the location is that it's 10 minutes away from Karangacem Train Station.
Day 3 : 29 October, Saturday : Karangacem Train Station (Banyuwangi) to Gubeng Station (Surabaya)
Ijen Crater Hike - The Blue Flame Volcano of Surabaya
Jeep Sharing: 150,000 Rupiah per pax
Motorcycle to Ijen Crater (2-way): 200,000 Rupiah per pax
Ijen Crater Entrance Fee: 100,000 Rupiah per pax
Ready by 01:00 am. 1-hour drive to the parking area of Mount Ijen, passing the Village of Licin, plantations and rainforest by private car or motorcycle.
Approximately 1-1.5 hours to ascend the slope of Mount Ijen to reach the peak of Ijen Crater.
Train from Karangacem Train Station (Banyuwangi) to Gubeng Station (Surabaya)
Business class: 145,000 Rupiah
Train Schedule: 9:15 Am
Travel time: 7 hrs
Make sure to check the train timing, as they only have several train rides per day.
Walk 5 minutes to the Hotel from Gubeng station.
Check-in My Studio Hotel
1 night: 180,000 Rupiah for two pax (room sharing dormitory, with breakfast)
Great location, within walking distance from Matahari Mall and the Gubeng Train shuttle.
Day 4: 30 October, Sunday: Souvenir Shopping, Gubeng Station (Surabaya) to Juanda Airport Surabaya International Airport
Walk less than 10 minutes to the nearby mall to buy souvenirs and goodies. Goodies were cheap yet no souvenirs were available. Managed to buy some in the airport but it's all plain I love Surabaya keychains no image of Bromo or Ijen Crater.
Reminders: Purchase your souvenirs in Mt. Bromo, with great design at an affordable price. Price range: 25,000-50,000 Rupiah
Indonesian snacks bought at Indo Market at Matahari Mall. Price range from 4,000- 12,000 Rupiah
Drive back to the airport. Booked online by Hotel Receptionist.
Taxi Fare: 55,000 Rupiah
Travel time: 45 minutes
Jetstar 3K248 2:05- 5:30 Surabaya Airport Terminal 2 to Singapore
What to do in Surabaya
8:15-9:35 Flight Tiger Airways TR2260 to Juanda Airport Surabaya International Airport
How to get there: Airport to Mt. Bromo Area
1. Surabaya Airport to Bungurasih (Surabaya Intercity Bus Station), located just outside the airport. Purchase your ticket before heading out to the exit door.
Travel time: 30 minutes
Bus Fare: 25,000 Rupiah per pax
It's a public transport expect some waiting time. Pick-up transport from the hotel usually costs around 500,000 Rupiah. After half an hour of filling all the seats, we were headed to the bus station.
2. Alight at Bayuangga Bus Station.
Take Bus to Probolinggo (Bayuangga Bus Station)
Travel time: 2.5 - 3 hrs
Bus Fare: 30,000 Rupiah per pax
3. Alight at Bayuangga Bus Station.
Take the minibus to Cemorolawang, the minibus station is located at the back of the bus terminal.
Travel time: 1-2 hrs
Bus Fare: 35,000 Rupiah per pax
The minibus waited for 15 passengers before leaving, it was a weekday and we were the only passengers that afternoon. So we paid 150,000 per pax to head off to Cemorolawang and drop off at our booked hotel.
Where to Stay near Mt. Bromo
Check-in Yoschi's Hotel
1 night: 210,000 Rupiah for two pax (1 room, bathroom sharing, free bar soap and with breakfast)
The staff is helpful. Pretty garden to hang out in. However, the location is far from Mt. Bromo and food stores while the mode of transportation is via booking with a hotel.
Our transport to Mt. Bromo was booked with Yoschi Hotel. I've read from a few blogs that it's possible to go hiking on your own. Make sure to check on your routes or maybe get a guide. If you stay in Cafe Lava Guesthouse it's just walking distance from the sunset viewing point.
Day 2: 28 October, Friday: Bromo Sunrise Hike – Ijen Crater Tour (7 hours driving from Bromo to Ijen Crater)
Jeep Sharing (4x4 WD) to Mt. Bromo: 150,000 Rupiah (Booked with Yoschi Hotel)
Wake-up call: 3:00 Am - 3:30 Am
Travel time: 1 hour
Mt. Bromo Entrance Fee: 220,000 Rupiah (tourists) and 27,000 Rupiah (locals) Check out the big difference.
We took a bath the night before to save our body heat for the next day's hike to the mountain. As early as 3 in the morning we were up and ready to start a great day. Our jeepney-sharing buddies were 30 minutes late, and it got us a little bit worried. Good thing, we manage to get to the sunrise viewing point at 4:00 Am. The viewing point is located in front of Mt. Bromo to get a better picture of the sunrise. The jeepney parks at the base, make sure to take note of the license plate number and the color of your vehicle. Hike less than 20 minutes to the sunrise viewing point. There are food shops at the top, and you can have some banana fritters and coffee while waiting for the sunrise. (Banana fritters: 5,000-10,000 Rupiah).
It was crowded. People were in all corners. The whole place was flooded with tourists of different nationalities. I felt bad for the locals who went there to pray and were disturbed by endless footsteps and laughter. We tried to keep our voices low and stationed ourselves on top of the pillars to get a better view of the sunrise. Be mindful of where you step your foot as you might step on one of the worship pillars.
Everyone waited patiently for the sun to rise. The second I saw the first light of day it gave out this warm feeling, like being reborn, like you can do whatever you want and in whatever you want it to be. Look far beyond everyone's head, and let nature entertain you with its magical beauty. The moment I detach myself from the unwavering crowd below I saw the spectacular view of the mountains. I'm glad we were brave enough to climb the pillars but be careful with your footing, keep your balance and find your grip.
As time passed by in the viewing deck, we realized that we were on a schedule, I don't like call time. One disadvantage of booking tours, even thou its a jeepney sharing is that it still feels like a tour group. Some have less fascination with mountains so they tend to head back to the jeepney earlier than the expected time. Thou we kept track of time, one of the passengers thought otherwise. What do you do in this situation? Kill them with Kindness! Ahahaa. Keep laughing and I just let it go. I'm glad we stayed longer as the mountain view got clearer, even less crowded which meant more fresh air for us. While everyone was busy getting warmed with hot coffee, and others bargaining for souvenir items we were actually having the time of our lives.
Behold Yourself
I stared at the beautiful horizon. It reminded me of the movie "Avatar" by James Cameron. The fog, the clouds, the mountains, and the valley were mesmerizing. The tourists who came there were just looking, no one bothered to stare and see intently the captivating view. I can imagine now why some ethnic tribes chose to live in the wild. Even in the movie Tarzan he chose to stay and Jane, his partner, insisted on staying as the jungle felt like her home too. It might be just a movie but I believe it says a lot about the small communities in the mountains like how they feel about the outside world. Now don't get me started with the Pocahontas animated movie ahahaa. I'll stop sharing my silly thoughts before it gets out of hand.
Wear Layers
Reminders: By the way it gets cold at the viewing point, I wore a fleece jacket with an inner heatech top, wool leggings, plus my travel-size windbreaker jacket and topped it off with a cute bonnet. Don't forget to remove your fleece jacket when climbing the summit, as you won't need that anymore.
- Call time back to the Jeepney: 6:00 Am
- Drive to Mt. Bromo for 20 minutes.
- Jeepney parks a few metres away from the starting point.
- Remember your jeepney's plate number, color and driver's face.
- 2 Kilometres hike to Mt. Bromo Summit, estimate time: 1 hour (back and forth)
- Take the horse ride for comfort but I don't recommend it. A few minutes walk is good exercise for everybody. It's a good mountain exercise for beginners, young and old.
- Call time back to the Jeepney at 8:00 Am.
At first, we really thought that was it after the sunrise viewing point, no more hiking at all. We got really worried. We've heard from some bloggers that they might close the summit hike to Mt. Bromo due to bad weather. It had been raining for the past few days but luckily the heavens were all in our favor.
Our next stop was to climb Mt. Bromo, see the crater and be showered with ashes at the summit. The sun shone brightly on that Friday morning, and the crowd doubled in numbers. I strongly believe Mount Bromo is a friendly and lovable mountain. Young and Old came to see her, let's just put it as her. She sometimes has her moments of menstrual cramps which is the smoke coming from the crater yet she manages to control her temper. Mt. Bromo's eruptions are not that massive and destructive. Locals would say they try to keep her calm through prayers and offerings.
I saw two guys make their way down the crater, they looked absolutely cool, crazy and hilariously brave. Well, I guess it's the only way to throw something at the mouth of the crater, or maybe they should try a safer approach like a slingshot or catapult, just kidding. When I had my solo trip last time in Kintamani, Bali, the Balinese people did the same thing, they showered the active volcano with offerings and prayers too. At least they show a great sign of respect for Mother Nature.
Drive back to Yoschi Hotel. Breakfast 3 choices: Toast bread with egg and orange juice, Fried rice with squid crackers and Fried Noodles, all served with coffee or tea. We asked the receptionist for tips, travel routes and estimated fares for our next day's journey. They offer a van sharing all the way to Ijen Crater at a great price, so we settled for transport to Probolingo and decided to catch the bus from there to the Ijen area.
Call time for Van to Probolingo: 10 Am
Van sharing: 75,000 Rupiah (Booked with Yoschi Hotel) Inform driver drop the off point for the bus to Banyuwangi.
Alight in Probolingo then you have 2 options: Train/Bus
1. Train from Probolingo to Banyuwangi has two timings 11 am and 4 pm. Check ticket dot com for any changes.
2. Bus from Probolingo to Banyuwangi. Option 2 was favorable for us as the train timings did not match our scheduled arrival. We didn't alight at the bus terminal instead at a bus agency named Kantorpos.
Economy bus: 70,000 Rupiah (6-7 hrs), Business/Express bus: 125,000 Rupiah (4-5 hrs)
Scam Alert
The guy offered us the student price for the Business/Express bus for 100,000 Rupiah if we showed him a student ID, the bus would then pick us up at 12 noon he said. We laughed and honestly told him it had been centuries since we'd graduated. I guess we have to thank our baby face for our good luck charm, little did we know. We saw a sticker inside the bus that showed the fare rates for different stops. It clearly shows that a bus ticket should be around 75,000 Rupiah to Banyuwangi. That's just how it is, we got to taste their rubbish deception for tourists.
It reminded me of another scam alert. This happened while were in Bromo while we were hanging out in Yoschi's Hotel lobby. Two American ladies came in asking for help from the receptionist. I can see that they're tired and angry. It turns out that their taxi driver suddenly just stopped driving and told them he won't drop them off at their booked hotel, just like that. They took the taxi from the airport terminal which is supposed to be reliable. I'm not sure if it was all a part of their plan to stop at our hotel, thou the staff were confused and helpful but everything seemed suspicious. Anyways, it was a long bus ride to Banyuwanggi, good thing we had a bladder break for 20 minutes at Damri Bus Station. Get your snacks here as the journey ahead will have no pit stops from other stations. Admire another beautiful countryside of Surabaya for the next 7 hours.
Alight at Banyuwangi Minibus Station
Take a minibus to the booked guesthouse for 20 minutes
Minibus fare: 15,000-25,000 Rupiah
The Blue Flame Volcano of Surabaya
Ijen Crater Hike, Surabaya , Indonesia
Our next stop is the Ijen Volcano. It's one of the two rare volcanoes in the world that produces blue flames, the other one is in Iceland. The blue flame is produced when the sulphur from the crater gets exposed to air molecules which creates the blue light effect. The Ijen Crater is located in Banyuwangi Regency of East Java, Indonesia.
How to get there: Bromo Area to Banyuwangi
1. The previous day we took a Van Sharing from Bromo Area to Probolingo at 10:00 Am.
Van Sharing: 75,000 Rupiah (Booked with Yoschi Hotel) Inform driver drop the off point for the bus to Banyuwangi.
2. Two options from Probolingo to Ijen Area: Train/ Bus
a. Train from Probolingo to Banyuwangi has two timings 11 am and 4 pm.
b. Bus from Probolingo to Banyuwangi.
We didn't alight at the bus terminal instead at a bus agency named Kantorpos. Economy bus: 70,000 Rupiah (6-7 hrs), Business/Express bus: 125,000 Rupiah (4-5 hrs)
3. Alight at Banyuwangi Minibus Station
Take a minibus to the booked guesthouse for 20 minutes
Minibus fare: 15,000-25,000 Rupiah
Check-in Kampung Osing Inn
1-night stay: 125,000 Rupiah / 13 SGD for two pax (1 room, with towel and breakfast)
The staff is great however far from Ijen Crater, no nearby restaurants and difficult to find a mode of transportation. The only great thing about the location is that it's around 10 minutes away from Karangacem Train Station. Other than that there's nothing more I can say. One more thing it turns out the hostel's website has not been updated. Our booked jeepney sharing for the crater and transport to Red Island was all for nothing.
Avoid taking the Motorcycle
We decided to get a motorcycle transport instead of the Ijen crater and forget about the red island. There's no other guesthouse around the area and no travel agencies too. You have to find a solution when you're faced with this kind of travel challenge. Bookings with the guesthouse was never a problem in our past travels. However, I do hope nobody gets the motorcycle ride to the Ijen crater, backpack traveling it's not always about the money. Please learn from our mistakes.
Day 3: 29 October, Saturday: Ijen Crater
Motorcycle to Ijen Crater (2-way): 200,000 Rupiah per pax
Ijen Crater Entrance Fee: 100,000 Rupiah per pax
Ready by 01:00 am. 1-hour drive by private car or motorcycle to the parking area of Mount Ijen, passing by Licin village, plantations and rainforest.
Approximately 1-1.5 hours to ascend the slope of Mount Ijen to reach the crater.
We slept for a few hours, got ready by 12 midnight, ate a snack and off to meet our drivers outside the guesthouse. They were on time to pick us up, one motorcycle driver for one passenger. Be reminded to ask your driver ahead of time to provide helmets. Don't ever ride without wearing a helmet, even your driver has to wear it. If possible, get the jeepney or van sharing to the crater.
Safety First
The road ahead is treacherous. Always think of your safety. Aside from that wear proper clothing. I wore a heatech top and bottom, a fleece jacket with hood, a lightweight windbreaker jacket and a cute bonnet. Don't forget to bring along a mask as the sulfur smoke gets really strong around the crater (gas mask rental is around 25,000 Rupiah). We were equipped with a N95 mask and a headlamp as there would be no light on the way to the summit and down the crater. Please be advised to wear hiking boots as it is more appropriate for the hike. Wearing the right kind of shoes will prevent accidents and save a lot of time for your footing. I've relied on my safety in my shoes. Hiking up and down the crater means passing through big boulders, loose rocks, slippery stones and the risk of acquiring acrophobia, that's fear of heights.
This post is entirely my own opinion, just sharing my experience. I wasn't really impressed with what I saw when we reached the crater. The reason could be the weather, the season or the position of the moon. The blue flame was something different of course. Maybe it's the crowd, the tourists were just all over the place. Maybe it's not really the crowd, it's more about the miners. I saw a few sulfur miners working industriously in the area. They pass by us carrying heavy rocks of sulphur on their shoulders without proper clothing, masks and safety shoes. Everyone was literally disturbed and blocked their way.
Something Happened
An accident happened during our hike due to one selfish tourist who ignored to give way to one miner, when the miner got closer, he panicked as the road was not intended for two people. He stood on one loose big rock that could not handle his weight which eventually fell on the miner's foot. The miner shouted. I'm not sure if the tourist even tried to apologize. It really mentally tripped me off. The queue behind me was intently waiting for me to move ahead. I hate the fact that I can't do much for him. He can't communicate in English as well. Just a tap on his back and a smile was all I could give him. I do pray his foot is ok. I don't mean to discourage people from visiting the crater but I can see a lot of reasons not to go there. Let's not focus on that. Anyway, we only stayed there for a few minutes then we made our way back to the starting point where our drivers were patiently waiting for us.
On the brighter side, I would advise everyone to go instead on a morning hike. When the sun was up, everything looked magnificent. The view of the mountains was spectacular. I bet the crater must have looked friendlier at that time of the day too. My mood was rejuvenated, and my thoughts for the miners were masked for a while as my eyes feasted on the beautiful surroundings. The mountains were all in view, and the sky was clear with streaks of clouds and soft lighting from the sun. I stood there for a while without a word. When you see something good you have to breathe it all in and capture all the details in your memory. Even now I can still picture myself standing on that rock and looking at the great mountain view. We took our sweet time hiking back to base as the descent down the mountain was a lot easier. All smiles and laughter. We were like kids playing with the tree branches and sliding down the slopes. Don't forget to remove your jacket, windbreaker and bonnet. You don't want to miss the fresh air.
Got Lost
We decided not to stay any longer in Banyuwangi. The guesthouse offered to drop us off at Karangacem Train Station, however, no one was there to do the good deed. Independent ladies like us just have to do things in our own ways. We walked not knowing where the train station was located. A few locals pointed us in the right direction, and two little girls sang in unison to guide us where to go. But if you're equipped with heavy bags walking to the train station will seem like miles away. Good thing that as we walked down the street our designated driver found us which gave us ample of time to buy the train ticket and have some lunch before the trip.
Back to Surabaya
9:15 Am Train to Gubeng Station, Surabaya. Buy your tickets at the counter, when you're ready to go have your boarding pass printed at the ticket machine then proceed to the entrance where the security officer will scan your tickets.
Train from Karangacem Train Station to Gubeng Station
Business class: 145,000 Rupiah
Train Schedule: 9:15 Am
Travel time: 7 hrs
Make sure to check the train timing, as they only have several train rides per day.
I love waiting for the train or bus during my travels. It's where time stood still, you get a chance to think about your day and all the wonderful things that happened. You get to see different kinds of travelers at the train station. There's the youngster's group singing in the corner, a lone traveler trying to figure out the map to his next location, lovers looking at pictures in their cameras, locals trying to get to work and two girls sheepishly teasing each other. I'm glad my travel buddy doesn't mind what other people say or think because I can be an embarrassment sometimes with all my foolishness. The train arrived on time yet the seats were not that comfortable compared to the bus. But the view of the countryside was great. Our booked hotel was just 5 minutes away from Gubeng station.
Check-in My Studio Hotel
1 night: 180,000 Rupiah for 2 pax (with breakfast and superb location)
Walking distance from Matahari Mall and Gubeng Train station.
Day 4: 30 October, Sunday: Surabaya - Airport
Goodies Shopping in Surabaya City. Purchase some Indonesian snacks at Indo Market at Matahari Mall. Price range from 4,000- 12,000 Rupiah
Souvenir Shopping
Goodies were cheap yet no souvenirs were available. Managed to buy some in the airport but it's all plain I love Surabaya keychains no image of Bromo or Ijen Crater. Better yet buy your souvenirs in the tourist spot locations.
Drive back to the airport. Booked online by Hotel Receptionist.
Taxi Fare: 55,000 Rupiah
Travel time: 45 minutes
Jetstar 3K248 2:05- 5:30 Surabaya Airport Terminal 2 to Changi Airport, Singapore
Have fun and be safe ^__^
Do you want more adventure?
If you still have a few more days why not go Paragliding in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Where am I going next?
Related articles you may find interesting:
No comments
Post a Comment